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William Monk #1
The Face of a Stranger
"Richly textured with the sights and sounds of London and its countryside...Solidly absorbing and Perry's best to date."
THE KIRKUS REVIEWS
His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detecive. But the accident that felled him has left him with only half a life; his memory and his entire past have vanished. As he tries to hide the truth, Monk returns to work and is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of a Crimean War hero and man about town. Which makes Monk's efforts doubly difficult, since he's forgotten his professional skills along with everything else....
A Dual Main Selection of the Mystery Guild
THE KIRKUS REVIEWS
His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detecive. But the accident that felled him has left him with only half a life; his memory and his entire past have vanished. As he tries to hide the truth, Monk returns to work and is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of a Crimean War hero and man about town. Which makes Monk's efforts doubly difficult, since he's forgotten his professional skills along with everything else....
A Dual Main Selection of the Mystery Guild
345 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
797 people are currently reading
13136 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
350 books3,360 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,373 reviews
September 11, 2018
The face of a stranger is the first volume in William Monk series, a victorian mystery with an interesting detective. At the beginning of this book we meet the MC in a hospital suffering from amnesia. He doesn't remember who he is and what happened to him and we conveniently learn more about him as he discovers himself. He cannot allow his colleagues from work to know that he no longer remembers his job and as a result he is thrown in a crime investigation soon after he is recovers physically. He has to investigate the brutal murder of an upper class individual and a war hero in the Crimean war.
I enjoyed the mystery and the plot twists were pretty unexpected. However I had a few problems. Firstly, I thought there was too much debate and worry about the fate of poor people, a bit unnatural for the characters. Also, there were too many powerful, independent women which, although appreciated, seems a bit unnatural for the time period. Moreover, the MC stopped too many times in the middle of a plot development or during an interesting conversation to reflect on his character and on the fact he does not remember who he is.
It was not perfect but I enjoyed this series debut and planning to read more by the author. My mum has the first novel from Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series so that will probably be my next one.
I enjoyed the mystery and the plot twists were pretty unexpected. However I had a few problems. Firstly, I thought there was too much debate and worry about the fate of poor people, a bit unnatural for the characters. Also, there were too many powerful, independent women which, although appreciated, seems a bit unnatural for the time period. Moreover, the MC stopped too many times in the middle of a plot development or during an interesting conversation to reflect on his character and on the fact he does not remember who he is.
It was not perfect but I enjoyed this series debut and planning to read more by the author. My mum has the first novel from Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series so that will probably be my next one.
October 27, 2016
4.25★
Definitely not often a crime novel is written by an author who committed a brutal premeditated murder at the age of fifteen. Her former name was Juliet Marion Hulme and the disturbing movie Heavenly Creatures with Kate Winslet was based on her story, though with no input from her. There are two books about her on Goodreads. I discovered this information just before I started reading this, her first of over forty novels. I admit to being overly intrigued after reading in a Guardian interview: "Perry's books grapple with questions of sin and repentance, the price of redemption and forgiveness. 'It is vital for me to go on exploring moral matters,' she says.”
This was quite excellent. As it opens Detective Monk has suffered a concussion and can recall nothing of his life. After recovering physically he goes back to work and is assigned a rotten murder case but tells no one of his amnesia. Coincidentally his accident and the murder occurred on the same night. Very interesting. He has no idea who his friends or enemies are though it is obvious that he was not well liked. His personal issues add multiple levels of mystery. It is a British historical piece as well, "bring[ing] to life the idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of Victorian high society—the servants, the below-stairs gossip, the peculiar customs.” The author has done her research to realistically portray the life and times. According to a Q&A with her at the end of my book (which I quoted from above), she was crowned the “queen of British historical mystery” by the Chicago Tribune. If you're a fan of the genre I highly recommend this. Fascinating characters, great story and pacing. I’m thinking I will be back for more.
Definitely not often a crime novel is written by an author who committed a brutal premeditated murder at the age of fifteen. Her former name was Juliet Marion Hulme and the disturbing movie Heavenly Creatures with Kate Winslet was based on her story, though with no input from her. There are two books about her on Goodreads. I discovered this information just before I started reading this, her first of over forty novels. I admit to being overly intrigued after reading in a Guardian interview: "Perry's books grapple with questions of sin and repentance, the price of redemption and forgiveness. 'It is vital for me to go on exploring moral matters,' she says.”
This was quite excellent. As it opens Detective Monk has suffered a concussion and can recall nothing of his life. After recovering physically he goes back to work and is assigned a rotten murder case but tells no one of his amnesia. Coincidentally his accident and the murder occurred on the same night. Very interesting. He has no idea who his friends or enemies are though it is obvious that he was not well liked. His personal issues add multiple levels of mystery. It is a British historical piece as well, "bring[ing] to life the idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of Victorian high society—the servants, the below-stairs gossip, the peculiar customs.” The author has done her research to realistically portray the life and times. According to a Q&A with her at the end of my book (which I quoted from above), she was crowned the “queen of British historical mystery” by the Chicago Tribune. If you're a fan of the genre I highly recommend this. Fascinating characters, great story and pacing. I’m thinking I will be back for more.
March 29, 2016
A man wakes up in a hospital after a carriage accident in 1856 with no idea of who he his or what his life has been like. He doesn't remember his name or his profession.
He is told that he is William Monk, police detective. And he is immediately assigned to a very difficult murder case. A member of the aristocracy, Joscelin Grey, was beaten to death in his own home. Can Monk, a man who doesn't even recognize his own face, solve this baffling mystery and keep his job?
...
This book was amazing.
THE SETTING
London 1856 is brought to vivid life by Perry. You can taste the vegetable stew and smell the rank odors of extreme poverty as Monk makes his way through Victorian London. I don't generally read historical fiction, and I was very impressed.
THE CHARACTERS
Perry really takes the time to develop her characters. We get in the head of not only Monk, but the independent spinster spitfire Hester Latterly. The sparks that fly (not necessarily romantically) between these two leads are epic. There's also a lot of tension between Monk and his smug, belligerent boss Runcorn. These scenes (Monk vs. Latterly and Monk vs. Runcorn) were crackling off the page.
UNREALISTIC
I do feel like this book was unrealistic in "feminist" women. While I like and appreciate that there are so many independent and free-spirited females in this novel, it's certainly not very believable considering the time period. I also found it very unrealistic that Monk, Latterly, Evan, and others were so concerned with class differences and the deaths and suffering of the poor. Again, possible technically I guess, but not very believable.
I'm mentioning this, but you can see I gave this five stars. It's not a criticism - I love feminist characters and also 'hero' characters who fight against discrimination and for better lives for the poor - but merely an observation that it is not very believable.
THE WRITING
Perry definitely has a unique style of writing, and one which I really enjoyed.
He remembered the horror he had felt when actually standing in the room. Did walls retain memory? Could violence or hatred remain in the air after a deed was finished, and touch the sensitive, the imaginative with a shadow of the horror?
I saw The Grudge! I know it can happen! LOL :)
Some might find Perry's writing a bit slow, or even pedantic - but I liked it a lot. Especially considering the time period this novel takes place in - it was very appropriate. The book is in no way boring or dull.
THE AMNESIA
Monk's amnesia is an obvious plot device to help ease the reader into this world. As Monk discovers things about himself and the world he lives in, so does the reader. I didn't mind this. Even though it sounds clunky and obvious, Perry actually does a great job with it. It was scary (for both Monk and the reader) never knowing who to trust, or who you hated or even loved in the past. Life is such a minefield for Monk as he tries to figure out who his friends and enemies are, and it keeps the reader in a state of nervous excitement.
CHANGING CHARACTER
It is especially interesting that when Monk takes a close look at his previous life, he comes to the conclusion that he might have been... not the best person. Now, with the amnesia giving him a fresh start, a fresh chance at life - he makes the slow, conscious decision to be a better person than he was. I liked seeing this and it was interesting to see characters who were once afraid of Monk's past self, slowly starting to trust and like him. Very interesting and well done.
THE MYSTERY
The mystery was well-crafted. I did not figure out who did it (before the author chose to reveal it to me) and Perry presented me with some great twists and turns. Both the general plot and the mystery plot of this book are engaging and exciting.
THE DIALOGUE
I feel I must warn you about the dialogue:
"Ah, there you 'ave me, sir; I don't think as I would. Yer see, I didn't see 'im close, like, when 'e was down 'ere. An' on the stairs I only looked where I was goin', it bein' dark. 'E 'ad one o' them 'eavy coats on, as it was a rotten night an' rainin' somethin' wicked. A natural night for anyone to 'ave 'is coat turned up an' 'is 'at drawn down. I recken 'e were dark, that's about I could say fer sure, an' if 'e 'ad a beard, it weren't much of a one."
Now, I'm not saying Perry is unskilled at capturing a certain class of British accent. As you can see, she is very skilled. However, at times I found these paragraphs of dialogue very difficult to read and understand. Deaf = death. 'orspital = Hospital. Etc. etc. etc. If you hate this kind of "writing an accent phonetically," you are going to have problems with this book. This kind of language is not constant - it only crops up when Monk talks to street urchins, prostitutes, skeevers, porters, and other lower class people. But it does happen frequently enough that I feel it bears mentioning. Read at your own risk.
...
In short, an excellent books in all respects and a series that I will definitely continue. This is my first Anne Perry book (although so many of my friends in real life rave about her) and I was pleased to discover that she lived up to the hype. I went into this book not expecting much, and ended up loving it! The best kind of book, in my opinion. :)
He is told that he is William Monk, police detective. And he is immediately assigned to a very difficult murder case. A member of the aristocracy, Joscelin Grey, was beaten to death in his own home. Can Monk, a man who doesn't even recognize his own face, solve this baffling mystery and keep his job?
...
This book was amazing.
THE SETTING
London 1856 is brought to vivid life by Perry. You can taste the vegetable stew and smell the rank odors of extreme poverty as Monk makes his way through Victorian London. I don't generally read historical fiction, and I was very impressed.
THE CHARACTERS
Perry really takes the time to develop her characters. We get in the head of not only Monk, but the independent spinster spitfire Hester Latterly. The sparks that fly (not necessarily romantically) between these two leads are epic. There's also a lot of tension between Monk and his smug, belligerent boss Runcorn. These scenes (Monk vs. Latterly and Monk vs. Runcorn) were crackling off the page.
UNREALISTIC
I do feel like this book was unrealistic in "feminist" women. While I like and appreciate that there are so many independent and free-spirited females in this novel, it's certainly not very believable considering the time period. I also found it very unrealistic that Monk, Latterly, Evan, and others were so concerned with class differences and the deaths and suffering of the poor. Again, possible technically I guess, but not very believable.
I'm mentioning this, but you can see I gave this five stars. It's not a criticism - I love feminist characters and also 'hero' characters who fight against discrimination and for better lives for the poor - but merely an observation that it is not very believable.
THE WRITING
Perry definitely has a unique style of writing, and one which I really enjoyed.
He remembered the horror he had felt when actually standing in the room. Did walls retain memory? Could violence or hatred remain in the air after a deed was finished, and touch the sensitive, the imaginative with a shadow of the horror?
I saw The Grudge! I know it can happen! LOL :)
Some might find Perry's writing a bit slow, or even pedantic - but I liked it a lot. Especially considering the time period this novel takes place in - it was very appropriate. The book is in no way boring or dull.
THE AMNESIA
Monk's amnesia is an obvious plot device to help ease the reader into this world. As Monk discovers things about himself and the world he lives in, so does the reader. I didn't mind this. Even though it sounds clunky and obvious, Perry actually does a great job with it. It was scary (for both Monk and the reader) never knowing who to trust, or who you hated or even loved in the past. Life is such a minefield for Monk as he tries to figure out who his friends and enemies are, and it keeps the reader in a state of nervous excitement.
CHANGING CHARACTER
It is especially interesting that when Monk takes a close look at his previous life, he comes to the conclusion that he might have been... not the best person. Now, with the amnesia giving him a fresh start, a fresh chance at life - he makes the slow, conscious decision to be a better person than he was. I liked seeing this and it was interesting to see characters who were once afraid of Monk's past self, slowly starting to trust and like him. Very interesting and well done.
THE MYSTERY
The mystery was well-crafted. I did not figure out who did it (before the author chose to reveal it to me) and Perry presented me with some great twists and turns. Both the general plot and the mystery plot of this book are engaging and exciting.
THE DIALOGUE
I feel I must warn you about the dialogue:
"Ah, there you 'ave me, sir; I don't think as I would. Yer see, I didn't see 'im close, like, when 'e was down 'ere. An' on the stairs I only looked where I was goin', it bein' dark. 'E 'ad one o' them 'eavy coats on, as it was a rotten night an' rainin' somethin' wicked. A natural night for anyone to 'ave 'is coat turned up an' 'is 'at drawn down. I recken 'e were dark, that's about I could say fer sure, an' if 'e 'ad a beard, it weren't much of a one."
Now, I'm not saying Perry is unskilled at capturing a certain class of British accent. As you can see, she is very skilled. However, at times I found these paragraphs of dialogue very difficult to read and understand. Deaf = death. 'orspital = Hospital. Etc. etc. etc. If you hate this kind of "writing an accent phonetically," you are going to have problems with this book. This kind of language is not constant - it only crops up when Monk talks to street urchins, prostitutes, skeevers, porters, and other lower class people. But it does happen frequently enough that I feel it bears mentioning. Read at your own risk.
...
In short, an excellent books in all respects and a series that I will definitely continue. This is my first Anne Perry book (although so many of my friends in real life rave about her) and I was pleased to discover that she lived up to the hype. I went into this book not expecting much, and ended up loving it! The best kind of book, in my opinion. :)
August 26, 2018
As an historical fiction fan, I am embarrassed that it has taken me so long to discover Anne Perry. This first in the William Monk series was superb. There is a tension to this story as we work alongside Monk to discover who he himself is. He is suffering from total memory loss after an accident. He realises he is actually not a nice person and also that his job hangs precariously by a thread as his boss sets him up for a fall. He must solve a murder that has everyone baffled and time is of the essence.
The mystery surrounding this murder has the aftermath of the Crimean War as its context. It was fascinating to read about the politics of the time - how for example British jingoistic fervour, remnants from Waterloo, led the British into a war with an attitude of pride and confidence leading to a complete massacre; the truly awful conditions and spread of disease in Scutari, countered by Florence Nightingale - in contrast to the misinformation and lies found in reporting of the war back home in Britain.
Very well done, Ms Perry! #20 years late to the party!
The mystery surrounding this murder has the aftermath of the Crimean War as its context. It was fascinating to read about the politics of the time - how for example British jingoistic fervour, remnants from Waterloo, led the British into a war with an attitude of pride and confidence leading to a complete massacre; the truly awful conditions and spread of disease in Scutari, countered by Florence Nightingale - in contrast to the misinformation and lies found in reporting of the war back home in Britain.
Very well done, Ms Perry! #20 years late to the party!
July 13, 2010
Themes: identity, crime, war, family, secrets, memory, class
Setting: Victorian England
Now I remember why I don't read Anne Perry anymore. I don't really like her writing. This book sounded like a change from her Thomas/Charlotte Pitt series, which I did enjoy at one time. I just got a little tired of reading about the seamy side of Victorian life, and she explored deviance in all its forms, the worst crimes she could imagine, and on and on and on. There wasn't much to smile about in her books, ever. But this is about a different character, so it was possible that it would be enjoyable.
Nope.
This is a classic example of how NOT to write a mystery, IMO. It starts with Detective William Monk awaking in a hospital to find that he is very weak, injured, and that he doesn't remember anything at all, even his name or how he got there. He returns home and searches for clues all over his flat to find anything that will help trigger a memory. When nothing helps, he goes to visit his sister. On his return to London, he gets sent to investigate a crime that occurred the same night he had his accident, the murder of a popular gentleman with a titled family. Someone beat Joscelin Gray to death.
So far, it could have been a good book. We've got both the mystery of Monk's past and the mystery of murder. But the writing was so darn bad that I really couldn't finish the book. I was listening to it, which means that it took stinking forever to finish, so I finally gave up and got a paper copy at the library so I could skim through to the end.
The main thing that turned me off was the way the writer stuck interior monologue in the middle of PRACTICALLY EVERY CONVERSATION! So Monk is questioning someone, and then randomly thinks, "I wonder what kind of man I was before my accident. I wonder if I liked music. Did I have a girlfriend? Did I like pie? Why can't I remember?" and on, and on, and on, while the actual conversation just sort of hangs there until Monk comes to his senses and starts paying attention again.
And the other main character, Hester Latterly, does the same thing. She'll be listening to some discussion of the Crimean war and have a flashback to her service there as a nurse and we'll get a page of her reminiscences. I know we all do that from time to time, let our minds wander now and then, but it's really super boring to listen to! Even reading it was bad enough, but at least then I could skip ahead a couple of paragraphs.
I know that this series, and her other one, have some fans, but I am not reading anymore by this author. One series is too dark, and this one is too dumb. The writing itself is not very good and the style is extremely irritating. 1 star.
Setting: Victorian England
Now I remember why I don't read Anne Perry anymore. I don't really like her writing. This book sounded like a change from her Thomas/Charlotte Pitt series, which I did enjoy at one time. I just got a little tired of reading about the seamy side of Victorian life, and she explored deviance in all its forms, the worst crimes she could imagine, and on and on and on. There wasn't much to smile about in her books, ever. But this is about a different character, so it was possible that it would be enjoyable.
Nope.
This is a classic example of how NOT to write a mystery, IMO. It starts with Detective William Monk awaking in a hospital to find that he is very weak, injured, and that he doesn't remember anything at all, even his name or how he got there. He returns home and searches for clues all over his flat to find anything that will help trigger a memory. When nothing helps, he goes to visit his sister. On his return to London, he gets sent to investigate a crime that occurred the same night he had his accident, the murder of a popular gentleman with a titled family. Someone beat Joscelin Gray to death.
So far, it could have been a good book. We've got both the mystery of Monk's past and the mystery of murder. But the writing was so darn bad that I really couldn't finish the book. I was listening to it, which means that it took stinking forever to finish, so I finally gave up and got a paper copy at the library so I could skim through to the end.
The main thing that turned me off was the way the writer stuck interior monologue in the middle of PRACTICALLY EVERY CONVERSATION! So Monk is questioning someone, and then randomly thinks, "I wonder what kind of man I was before my accident. I wonder if I liked music. Did I have a girlfriend? Did I like pie? Why can't I remember?" and on, and on, and on, while the actual conversation just sort of hangs there until Monk comes to his senses and starts paying attention again.
And the other main character, Hester Latterly, does the same thing. She'll be listening to some discussion of the Crimean war and have a flashback to her service there as a nurse and we'll get a page of her reminiscences. I know we all do that from time to time, let our minds wander now and then, but it's really super boring to listen to! Even reading it was bad enough, but at least then I could skip ahead a couple of paragraphs.
I know that this series, and her other one, have some fans, but I am not reading anymore by this author. One series is too dark, and this one is too dumb. The writing itself is not very good and the style is extremely irritating. 1 star.
June 16, 2016
I should've read this long ago. I have always been a fan of Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novels, but for some reason I hadn't read her William Monk series yet. I am so glad I did! Monk is a muddle of a man. So many contradicting emotions. Hester is a wonderful character. Anne Perry puts such strong women in her books set in anti-woman Victorian England. (You'd think a country ruled by a woman would be more progressive!) And Evans is a delight. Can't wait to see more of this.
June 1, 2020
This would make a solid stand-alone novel, but man, what a great way to start a series! And the trick of giving the main character amnesia gives the writer the chance to not only describe the character to himself, and thus the reader, through self-realization, it also affords the write some breathing room to develop a character on the fly. I know when I finished writing my first book, I felt like I didn't know my mc like I should, so I went through the bother of writing a prequel. This avoids that necessity.
The plot in this Victorian-era murder mystery/detective story is clever. Perhaps not mind-boggling, but quite good. Sometimes the execution dragged a bit. Perry likes to work with character and motive, letting it play out in realtime. The stuffy English mores of those times may not be everyone else's cuppa, but I enjoyed it!
The plot in this Victorian-era murder mystery/detective story is clever. Perhaps not mind-boggling, but quite good. Sometimes the execution dragged a bit. Perry likes to work with character and motive, letting it play out in realtime. The stuffy English mores of those times may not be everyone else's cuppa, but I enjoyed it!
June 6, 2016
One of the best books I've read in the last 12 months. Characters were complex, flawed, and authentic. Dialogue rang true. The mystery was good and not capable of being figured out with any certainty until close to the end. In candor, I've avoided reading any Anne Perry books until now because of my discomfort with the author's ability to get away with murder with a slap on the wrist several decades ago. It's been my loss.
March 5, 2010
I felt like clapping as I set down this book after finishing it. I thought it was so fun to read. I actually reached out and patted the book with glee a few times and chuckled to myself once setting it down. :) I can't say many books have entertained me in such a way. I think the complexity of the storyline really had me going. I'm afraid I'm 'hooked.'
I'm so glad Perry was accurate in her account of the 'slums' and the conditions of Victorian times. I appreciated her strictness in presenting social norms and customs as they were, rather than bending the rules a bit.
The characters were so real and fun. I think my favorite was Lady Callandra. I'd love to have her as a friend and advisor :).
I like that I wasn't told the complete history of each character. They are deep and real, just as a real person doesn't give you their whole history in the first few meetings. I look forward to reading the other William Monk books as my 'fun books.' I'm glad to have another type of 'fun book' to interspace my more serious reads.
I'm a fan of mystery if it is a mystery as complete and entertaining as the Monk series promises to be.
ps I really like it when some of the main characters have faults that make them more real and endearing. I can relate so much more to a character who is a little more on the normal side vs. Disney Princess/Prince.
I'm so glad Perry was accurate in her account of the 'slums' and the conditions of Victorian times. I appreciated her strictness in presenting social norms and customs as they were, rather than bending the rules a bit.
The characters were so real and fun. I think my favorite was Lady Callandra. I'd love to have her as a friend and advisor :).
I like that I wasn't told the complete history of each character. They are deep and real, just as a real person doesn't give you their whole history in the first few meetings. I look forward to reading the other William Monk books as my 'fun books.' I'm glad to have another type of 'fun book' to interspace my more serious reads.
I'm a fan of mystery if it is a mystery as complete and entertaining as the Monk series promises to be.
ps I really like it when some of the main characters have faults that make them more real and endearing. I can relate so much more to a character who is a little more on the normal side vs. Disney Princess/Prince.
April 30, 2019
Amazing! This was the first Anne Perry book I've read and I was totally engrossed in not just the suspenseful murder mystery but the unraveling of Mr. Monk himself, who suffers memory loss after a head injury in a hansom cab crash. The way Monk and his assistant Evan piece the story together bit by bit with very little to go on was remarkable. I hope the other books in the Monk series will be just as good, as well as the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series that I've never read. A recommended read!
March 18, 2025
اولین رمان جنایی من از بانوی نویسندهی انگلیسی، آنپری. تعجب میکنم که چطور با وجود علاقه شخصیم به این ژانر، تا به حال از کتابهاش نخوندم. کتاب در همون چپتر اول منو جذب خودش کرد و با وجود اینکه گاهی از نفس میافتاد (در نظر من) همچنان من رو مجاب میکرد تا از صفحهای به صفحه بعدی برم ( such a page turner ).
تمامی کرکترها برای من زنده شدند،
مونک، که معمای زندگیش که در تار و پود معمای قتل دیگری در هم پیچیده، سنگینی خالی بودن ذهن عاری از خاطرات و نبود هیچ خاطره ای از خنده، گریه، مهربانی از شخصی، حضور گرم یک دوست یا هرگونه احساسی، همه و همه این کاراگاهِ گویا خودبین رو برام زنده و زندهتر میکنه.
«…، حتی از لذت عادت های گذشته هم برخوردار نبود»
هستر لترلی، زنی با جسارت و روحیهای قوی و راسخ، زیرک و حتی «بیش از حد» باهوش که در چهارچوب دنیای مردسالارانهی ژنرالهای بنام، همچنان به جنگیدن ادامه میده، هرچند دیگه در میادین جنگ حضور نداره.
برجستگی شخصیتهای کوچکتر، لیدی فابیا شلبورن خودکامه، پسران پرمدعاش از جاسلین خوشصحبت مقتول تا لاول مستبد و منارد حسود و زودجوش، ایوان به عنوان همکار مهربان و دلسوز مونک، لیدی روزماند و ایموگن لترلی کمرو، بانو کالاندرا دوایت خردور، همه و همه با جرعهای از معجون زندگیبخشی درمیآمیزن و از ضرافت قلم و به تصویر کشیدن زیرکانهی طبقه اشراف تا زاغهنشینان و رباخواران قرن نوزدهی، تجربهی لذتبخشی رو برای خواننده ایجاد میکنن.
تمامی کرکترها برای من زنده شدند،
مونک، که معمای زندگیش که در تار و پود معمای قتل دیگری در هم پیچیده، سنگینی خالی بودن ذهن عاری از خاطرات و نبود هیچ خاطره ای از خنده، گریه، مهربانی از شخصی، حضور گرم یک دوست یا هرگونه احساسی، همه و همه این کاراگاهِ گویا خودبین رو برام زنده و زندهتر میکنه.
«…، حتی از لذت عادت های گذشته هم برخوردار نبود»
هستر لترلی، زنی با جسارت و روحیهای قوی و راسخ، زیرک و حتی «بیش از حد» باهوش که در چهارچوب دنیای مردسالارانهی ژنرالهای بنام، همچنان به جنگیدن ادامه میده، هرچند دیگه در میادین جنگ حضور نداره.
برجستگی شخصیتهای کوچکتر، لیدی فابیا شلبورن خودکامه، پسران پرمدعاش از جاسلین خوشصحبت مقتول تا لاول مستبد و منارد حسود و زودجوش، ایوان به عنوان همکار مهربان و دلسوز مونک، لیدی روزماند و ایموگن لترلی کمرو، بانو کالاندرا دوایت خردور، همه و همه با جرعهای از معجون زندگیبخشی درمیآمیزن و از ضرافت قلم و به تصویر کشیدن زیرکانهی طبقه اشراف تا زاغهنشینان و رباخواران قرن نوزدهی، تجربهی لذتبخشی رو برای خواننده ایجاد میکنن.
April 5, 2018
Review written April 4, 2018
4 Strong Stars - Great serial opener
Book #1 in a new for me historical mystery serial. Set in London 1856 with the main character the police detective William Monk. The Face of a Strangeris the serial opener from 1990 and the firts of 24 book parts so far (still a new one next to every year as it looks).
A very HAPPY EASTER 🥚🐣🐥 read. Got hooked from start and just wish to start the second book.
**********************************************
« His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detecive. But the accident that felled him has left him with only half a life; his memory and his entire past have vanished. As he tries to hide the truth, Monk returns to work and is assigned to investigate the brutal murder... »
**********************************************
I listened to the 13:19 hours audiobook from start very well and pleasant narrated by Davina Porter.
I LIKE - Detective Monk [and his maybe to be lady sweetheart?]
4 Strong Stars - Great serial opener
Book #1 in a new for me historical mystery serial. Set in London 1856 with the main character the police detective William Monk. The Face of a Strangeris the serial opener from 1990 and the firts of 24 book parts so far (still a new one next to every year as it looks).
A very HAPPY EASTER 🥚🐣🐥 read. Got hooked from start and just wish to start the second book.
**********************************************
« His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detecive. But the accident that felled him has left him with only half a life; his memory and his entire past have vanished. As he tries to hide the truth, Monk returns to work and is assigned to investigate the brutal murder... »
**********************************************
I listened to the 13:19 hours audiobook from start very well and pleasant narrated by Davina Porter.
I LIKE - Detective Monk [and his maybe to be lady sweetheart?]
October 9, 2021
Excellent start for a series! A bit wordy and at some points repetitive but I enjoyed reading it all the same!
The main character William Monk is quite complicated because he is divided between the personality he had before his memory loss and how he perceives himself now and we along with him are called to like and dislike some of his past and present personality traits!
Hester Latterly was my favourite character even though a bit impertinent at some points! She has a sence for justice and an inner strength quite admirable and I very much liked that she is opinionated and not genteel and meek like most women of her social status in that time!
There where other characters I liked as well like Evan and Callandra Daviot and there were characters I couldn't stand like Hester's brother Charles and Runcorn who is Monk's boss!
The story very interesting and the era and setting well described by Anne Perry! A complex mystery with twists and turns and the cases very well interwoven between characters and past and present! My only complaint is that the author raised some questions about a matter which she didn't resolve in the end!
The main character William Monk is quite complicated because he is divided between the personality he had before his memory loss and how he perceives himself now and we along with him are called to like and dislike some of his past and present personality traits!
Hester Latterly was my favourite character even though a bit impertinent at some points! She has a sence for justice and an inner strength quite admirable and I very much liked that she is opinionated and not genteel and meek like most women of her social status in that time!
There where other characters I liked as well like Evan and Callandra Daviot and there were characters I couldn't stand like Hester's brother Charles and Runcorn who is Monk's boss!
The story very interesting and the era and setting well described by Anne Perry! A complex mystery with twists and turns and the cases very well interwoven between characters and past and present! My only complaint is that the author raised some questions about a matter which she didn't resolve in the end!
February 25, 2023
Detective Monk wakes from a coma in a Victorian London hospital not remembering anything about the criminal he was chasing when his accident happened. He can't remember anything. He realizes if he does not solve the crime he has been entrusted with, he will be pushed out of the police force.
In a word, brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and Victorian London coming to life in the pages.
In a word, brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and Victorian London coming to life in the pages.
December 7, 2011
This is the first book in an historical mystery series set in Victorian England. It features a police detective who is suffering from amnesia, so while he's solving the murder he's also trying to discover what kind of person he used to be.
It's well written, if occasionally repetitive and often preachy (war is not glamorous, slums and workhouses are bad, classism is unfair, women are marginalized, etc.). I liked Monk and the other major characters, and I look forward to reading more in this series.
It's well written, if occasionally repetitive and often preachy (war is not glamorous, slums and workhouses are bad, classism is unfair, women are marginalized, etc.). I liked Monk and the other major characters, and I look forward to reading more in this series.
March 10, 2025
2022: What I said before and more so. From the start, these characters are richly drawn.
There are people who wouldn't want to re-read a mystery because they already know "whodunnit." But to me, those are generally books where that's all that matters. When a book has good solid characters who grow and continue to grow in a series, re-reading it is an absolute pleasure. As it is here, seeing William Monk and Hester Latterly at the beginning of their friendship. Knowing what will happen later only makes it more delightful in a repeat read.
There are people who wouldn't want to re-read a mystery because they already know "whodunnit." But to me, those are generally books where that's all that matters. When a book has good solid characters who grow and continue to grow in a series, re-reading it is an absolute pleasure. As it is here, seeing William Monk and Hester Latterly at the beginning of their friendship. Knowing what will happen later only makes it more delightful in a repeat read.
December 30, 2013
Do not believe the reviews: This is not a 'richly-textured' historical book at all. Any historical context is as bare as bones; with a few minor changes, the novel could be as easily set in Renaissance England, or modern-day London, as in the Victorian time period where it is in fact set. Not even as a mystery does it work: The characters advance completely by guesswork for the first three-fourths of the novel, making huge jumps in logic and intuition, all in no way supported by the actual evidence described. Perry subscribes to the tell-don't-show school of writing, and when she does show, we are subjected to completely random bits of information such as what the characters were eating for lunch or what colour the cravat was or how fat someone was. Finally, as other reviewers have noted, Monk's internal monologues, perpetually wondering what kind of a person he was before his accident and then telling us what he's figured out, are rather boring. Waste of $10 on Kindle.
June 17, 2017
I don't get what this is trying to be. It seems like maybe it wants to be a serious historical novel, but then the plot relies on a case of silly bonk-on-the-head amnesia. The characters are mainly insufferable. Loose ends never get tied up. Even the amazing Davina Porter could not save the audio version.
March 31, 2009
It got me hooked on Monk and friends. What a change from modern mysteries/police dramas. The insight into period detail and how it relates to police investigation was nice, but I have found Perry is just a really good story teller. I've read all the Monk books the local library has...
July 23, 2025
۹/۱۰
کارآگاه مونک در حالی تو بیمارستان به هوش میاد که حتی اسم و یا چهره خودش رو به یاد نداره
قبل از اون که مونک به خودش بیاد پرونده قتل یکی از اشراف به عهده اون گذاشته میشه و درحالی که مونک حتی نمیتونه ادرس و یا خانوادهش رو به یاد بیاره باید مثل کارآگاهی که بوده اون پرونده قتل رو حل کنه ....
ایده داستان واقعا جد��د و جالب بود
فکر کن در حالی که نمیدونی کی هستی یا مثلا کجا زندگی میکنی یا حتی قیافت چه شکلیه باید بدون این که کسی بفهمه یه پرونده قتل هم حل کنی
تازه یه پرونده قتلی که هیچ سرنخی نداره و مافوقت هم فقط یه بهونه میخواد که از شرت خلاص شه
چیزایی که درباره این کتاب دوست داشتم این بود که صرفا رو جنایت تمرکز نکرده بود
یه بخشی اون تقابل زندگی اشراف و بقیه مردم رو داشتیم
یا مثلا وقتی که مونک کم کم متوجه میشه قبلا چه ادم رو مخی بوده
شخصیتپردازی خوبی داشت
هستر و کالاندرا رو واقعا دوست داشتم
البته یه سری از شخصیت ها فقط نقش فضا پر کن داشتن ولی خب او��قدر چیز خاصی نبود
و شخصیت ها خیلی حس واقعی بودن داشتن حتی انگیزه قتل هم خیلی منطقی بود
پلات توییست داستان جالب بود و این که ورق کاملا برگشت و اوضاع کاملا عوض شد رو دوست داشتم
تنها نکته کتاب این بود که هیچ توضیحی درباره این نداد که چرا مونک در وهله اول از دست دادن حافظش رو پنهان کرد
یعنی شما یه تصادف سنگین میکنی همه چیز رو فراموش میکنی بعد بهت میگن کارآگاهی بیا اینم پرونده میگی باشه؟؟
یعنی اول داستان کل ذهنم درگیر این بود خب چرا مونک نمیگه که حافظش رو از دست داده
و به نظرم اگه نویسنده حتی شده یه توضیح ریز درباره این بخش میداد بهتر میشد
ریتم داستان معمولیه نه تنده که بگید از هیجان نمیتونید داستان رو ول کنید نه اونقدر کنده که حوصلتون سر بره ولی کشش خوبی داره
اما در کل یه جنایی کلاسیک جالب بود که هم کشش داشت هم به مسائل اجتماعی پرداخته بود. و هم پلات توییست های غیر منتظره ای داشت
کارآگاه مونک در حالی تو بیمارستان به هوش میاد که حتی اسم و یا چهره خودش رو به یاد نداره
قبل از اون که مونک به خودش بیاد پرونده قتل یکی از اشراف به عهده اون گذاشته میشه و درحالی که مونک حتی نمیتونه ادرس و یا خانوادهش رو به یاد بیاره باید مثل کارآگاهی که بوده اون پرونده قتل رو حل کنه ....
ایده داستان واقعا جد��د و جالب بود
فکر کن در حالی که نمیدونی کی هستی یا مثلا کجا زندگی میکنی یا حتی قیافت چه شکلیه باید بدون این که کسی بفهمه یه پرونده قتل هم حل کنی
تازه یه پرونده قتلی که هیچ سرنخی نداره و مافوقت هم فقط یه بهونه میخواد که از شرت خلاص شه
چیزایی که درباره این کتاب دوست داشتم این بود که صرفا رو جنایت تمرکز نکرده بود
یه بخشی اون تقابل زندگی اشراف و بقیه مردم رو داشتیم
یا مثلا وقتی که مونک کم کم متوجه میشه قبلا چه ادم رو مخی بوده
شخصیتپردازی خوبی داشت
هستر و کالاندرا رو واقعا دوست داشتم
البته یه سری از شخصیت ها فقط نقش فضا پر کن داشتن ولی خب او��قدر چیز خاصی نبود
و شخصیت ها خیلی حس واقعی بودن داشتن حتی انگیزه قتل هم خیلی منطقی بود
پلات توییست داستان جالب بود و این که ورق کاملا برگشت و اوضاع کاملا عوض شد رو دوست داشتم
تنها نکته کتاب این بود که هیچ توضیحی درباره این نداد که چرا مونک در وهله اول از دست دادن حافظش رو پنهان کرد
یعنی شما یه تصادف سنگین میکنی همه چیز رو فراموش میکنی بعد بهت میگن کارآگاهی بیا اینم پرونده میگی باشه؟؟
یعنی اول داستان کل ذهنم درگیر این بود خب چرا مونک نمیگه که حافظش رو از دست داده
و به نظرم اگه نویسنده حتی شده یه توضیح ریز درباره این بخش میداد بهتر میشد
ریتم داستان معمولیه نه تنده که بگید از هیجان نمیتونید داستان رو ول کنید نه اونقدر کنده که حوصلتون سر بره ولی کشش خوبی داره
اما در کل یه جنایی کلاسیک جالب بود که هم کشش داشت هم به مسائل اجتماعی پرداخته بود. و هم پلات توییست های غیر منتظره ای داشت
April 19, 2023
Pues es el segundo que leo de esta autora y me ha gustado mucho. Al contrario del anterior, que era el primero de la serie Pitt y que me pareció malo, simple y previsible.
Este es cierto que tiene muchas carencias en cuanto a escritura, trama y que es repetitivo en el tema "crítica social", pero me ha parecido muy muy entretenido y con un final muy al estilo de las novelas negras clásicas.
Lo que sí echo de menos es que haya más contexto histórico en los escenarios, pero bueno...en general me lo he pasado pipa.
Este es cierto que tiene muchas carencias en cuanto a escritura, trama y que es repetitivo en el tema "crítica social", pero me ha parecido muy muy entretenido y con un final muy al estilo de las novelas negras clásicas.
Lo que sí echo de menos es que haya más contexto histórico en los escenarios, pero bueno...en general me lo he pasado pipa.
August 22, 2017
La primera novela de la serie sobre el detective William Monk. Ambientada en plena época Victoriana, año 1856, justo después de la guerra de Crimea. Publicada por primera vez en 1990.
Monk despierta en un hospital, tras haber sufrido un accidente en cabriolé, que le deja absolutamente sin memoria sobre quién es, y a qué se dedica. Cuando salga, tendrá que encargarse de encontrar al asesino de un ciudadano de la aristocracia, y al mismo tiempo averiguar cosas sobre su propio pasado, sus relaciones sociales y familiares.
Rica en detalles sobre la vida y las costumbres de la época, la encontré falta de ritmo. Pero sobre todo, lo que no entendí, y la autora no me explica, es por qué el protagonista no puede confesar que ha perdido su memoria, y reclamar la ayuda de sus compañeros y amigos cercanos, sobretodo la de su hermana, con la que pasará un período de recuperación tras el accidente, y a la que en ningún momento le confiesa que no sabe quién es. Y además, a mitad de novela, la narración principal cambia bruscamente de Monk a Hester, (no diré quién es para no meter un spoiler), dándole un giro tan inesperado que casi piensas que se le han mezclado dos novelas en una, por lo que dejaré mi calificación en tres estrellas, pues me ha gustado, pero al mismo tiempo me ha defraudado un poco. Habrá que darle nuevas oportunidades a la autora, pues si lleva 23 entregas de esta serie (Amén de otras 32 de la serie Thomas Pitt), por algo será.
Monk despierta en un hospital, tras haber sufrido un accidente en cabriolé, que le deja absolutamente sin memoria sobre quién es, y a qué se dedica. Cuando salga, tendrá que encargarse de encontrar al asesino de un ciudadano de la aristocracia, y al mismo tiempo averiguar cosas sobre su propio pasado, sus relaciones sociales y familiares.
Rica en detalles sobre la vida y las costumbres de la época, la encontré falta de ritmo. Pero sobre todo, lo que no entendí, y la autora no me explica, es por qué el protagonista no puede confesar que ha perdido su memoria, y reclamar la ayuda de sus compañeros y amigos cercanos, sobretodo la de su hermana, con la que pasará un período de recuperación tras el accidente, y a la que en ningún momento le confiesa que no sabe quién es. Y además, a mitad de novela, la narración principal cambia bruscamente de Monk a Hester, (no diré quién es para no meter un spoiler), dándole un giro tan inesperado que casi piensas que se le han mezclado dos novelas en una, por lo que dejaré mi calificación en tres estrellas, pues me ha gustado, pero al mismo tiempo me ha defraudado un poco. Habrá que darle nuevas oportunidades a la autora, pues si lleva 23 entregas de esta serie (Amén de otras 32 de la serie Thomas Pitt), por algo será.
August 7, 2016
This novel started really strong for me, great writing, but the mystery was obvious (I saw the big "twists" coming very early on) and the post WWI theme was done with a heavy hand (too many repetition of the horror of war and its consequences).
I liked it, but did not wow me, not sure whether I'll continue this series.
I liked it, but did not wow me, not sure whether I'll continue this series.
October 1, 2021
Meh nothing in this captured my attention. And now I'm tired. The murder mystery and mystery of who Monk was didn’t grab me. I also had a hard time liking Monk in general, he was a pompous asshole. I did like the one nurse character who told him to basically fuck off. Best part of the whole thing.
December 22, 2020
Inspector Monk, a detective in Victorian London, awakens in a hospital bed to discover he has no idea where he is, how he got there, or even who he is. Thrust back into his open investigation while pretending to not have complete amnesia, Monk has to retrace his steps while having to cover his own ineptitudes without seeming completely insensible.
Having a particular proclivity for time-travel tomes, I tend to find many amnesia characters to be something akin to time travelers ... or Quantum Leapers, if you will. They have to take some time to get their bearings, brace themselves for the unknown, figure out who and where they are — sometimes without giving themselves away. But man, Perry spent an inordinate amount of time in the exposition going on and on about how lost he was and how unfamiliar everything seemed and looked. Perhaps if this had been first person rather than third, it would've been less distancing, but here it felt like Monk kept shoving me away via Perry's narration.
However, that being said, third person works really well within a detective's story. When done correctly, with a good author — which Perry seems assuredly to be, this position places the reader quite nicely just behind the narrator's viewpoint, something in the vein of a video game. So aside from Monk wafflingly grasping at straws for his own bearings, I enjoyed his given narration quite a bit.
I'm really interested in continuing this series. Not only did I enjoy the way Perry writes in general, but I particularly enjoyed the way she cleverly developed this mystery. Monk is forced to retrace his steps, very carefully so as to not appear to be utterly daft. So I'm interested to see how Monk handles a new case — something where he doesn't have to feel he has to be so light-footed and careful. A new case where he can be himself — or this new version of himself, post-amnesia. And I wouldn't mind more of his junior detective John Evan, and a rather fantastic counterpoint for Monk, Hester Latterly.
Audiobook, as narrated by Davina Porter: Porter's voice is familiar from The Invasion of the Tearling's audiobook — a series that changed audiobook narrators with each installment. Here, with The Face of a Stranger decidedly not a Young Adult story, Porter's delivery is subtler, which I prefer. Her delivery is wonderful, and her range is perfect for a book that is set in Victorian London — panning the social status from pickpocket to upper class. Her lower class accent reminded me of Eliza Doolittle, or a blanket cockney in general, which I found incredibly charming.
Having a particular proclivity for time-travel tomes, I tend to find many amnesia characters to be something akin to time travelers ... or Quantum Leapers, if you will. They have to take some time to get their bearings, brace themselves for the unknown, figure out who and where they are — sometimes without giving themselves away. But man, Perry spent an inordinate amount of time in the exposition going on and on about how lost he was and how unfamiliar everything seemed and looked. Perhaps if this had been first person rather than third, it would've been less distancing, but here it felt like Monk kept shoving me away via Perry's narration.
However, that being said, third person works really well within a detective's story. When done correctly, with a good author — which Perry seems assuredly to be, this position places the reader quite nicely just behind the narrator's viewpoint, something in the vein of a video game. So aside from Monk wafflingly grasping at straws for his own bearings, I enjoyed his given narration quite a bit.
I'm really interested in continuing this series. Not only did I enjoy the way Perry writes in general, but I particularly enjoyed the way she cleverly developed this mystery. Monk is forced to retrace his steps, very carefully so as to not appear to be utterly daft. So I'm interested to see how Monk handles a new case — something where he doesn't have to feel he has to be so light-footed and careful. A new case where he can be himself — or this new version of himself, post-amnesia. And I wouldn't mind more of his junior detective John Evan, and a rather fantastic counterpoint for Monk, Hester Latterly.
Audiobook, as narrated by Davina Porter: Porter's voice is familiar from The Invasion of the Tearling's audiobook — a series that changed audiobook narrators with each installment. Here, with The Face of a Stranger decidedly not a Young Adult story, Porter's delivery is subtler, which I prefer. Her delivery is wonderful, and her range is perfect for a book that is set in Victorian London — panning the social status from pickpocket to upper class. Her lower class accent reminded me of Eliza Doolittle, or a blanket cockney in general, which I found incredibly charming.
September 22, 2016
I feel like I should like Anne Perry more than I actually do. I went through a "Charlotte and Thomas Pitt" phase a few years ago and gobbled up about ten of those before realizing I was basically reading the same book over and over again.
Ms. Perry is absolutely a talented writer and she's quite adept at setting a stage. Its almost effortless to find yourself immersed in the grimy, class conscious, corrupt world of Victorian England. Her research is also impressive and you can be sure of historical accuracy whenever you pick up one of her books.
Unfortunately as I think often happens with long running series she's found a formula that works and she's sticking to it.
In the case of the "Inspector Monk" series, of which this is the first, we've got a police detective who's suffering from amnesia (which he will go on to do for the next twenty two books). The Face of a Stranger is a bit better then the rest in the serious since this is the first time we meet Monk and frankly its a pretty cool idea. Monk is forced to hide his ailment from everyone if he has any hope of keeping his job or solving the murder of a young officer who fought in the Crimean War and was beloved by his noble family and pretty much everyone he ever met.
Its the Crimean War connection that introduces him to Hester Latterly and its Hester who turns what is a pretty solid period murder mystery with a neat angle into more of the same sort of thing we see all the time these days. Because of course Hester is ahead of her time.
If there's something I am supremely tired of its heroines who are ahead of their time.
Hester was a nurse in the Crimea so of course she's smarter then every doctor and high ranking military official in London when it comes to medical or military matters. She goes off into nasty, spiteful attacks on everyone who challenges her and is determined to see women achieve equal footing with men immediately. Because of course she is.
I'm sure you're very surprised to learn Hester and Monk don't like each other on sight.
I wonder if they'll fall in looooovvveeeeeeee????
I just want to throw it out there that I really dislike this particular romantic chestnut. The idea that a couple meet, basically hate each other on site because they're soooooo alike and then eventually realize the hatred was really blinding, adoration for each other...ugh its just lame.
So right, Monk is trying to figure out who he is and solve a mystery and Hester kind of helps because she knows people who fought in the Crimea. So they do that.
Then we throw another characteristic of Perry novels that gets super, super tired. The war between the classes.
Perry is obsessed with the class division in Victorian England. In every single novel Monk (or Thomas Pitt in that series) is always, always ham stringed by his inability to infiltrate the upper class system where these crimes are almost always happening. We get chapter upon chapter about how all the elite hate the police and think they're subhuman and don't feel they should have to answer any "unsavory" questions. The nobles treat their servants like trash. The nobles don't believe anyone except lower class people can commit murder. They happily cover up everything from child molesting to murdering prostitutes in the name of protecting their "honor."
I GET IT the upper class sucks.
Then there's her tendency to really only write two kinds of characters. You're either "ahead of your time" or " hopelessly repressive." Hester, for instance, has a brother who can't stand how uppity Hester is with all her job wanting and rights needing! Women should retire from the room when someone is investigating a crime because their delicate sensibilities will cause them to swoon! Ladies know nothing about anything except doilies and dinner services!
So I don't know the mystery is okay and there's a bit of a bait and switch and the end but from here on out its straight up Monk fighting evil nobles and Hester fighting the "man" lather, rinse, repeat....
Ms. Perry is absolutely a talented writer and she's quite adept at setting a stage. Its almost effortless to find yourself immersed in the grimy, class conscious, corrupt world of Victorian England. Her research is also impressive and you can be sure of historical accuracy whenever you pick up one of her books.
Unfortunately as I think often happens with long running series she's found a formula that works and she's sticking to it.
In the case of the "Inspector Monk" series, of which this is the first, we've got a police detective who's suffering from amnesia (which he will go on to do for the next twenty two books). The Face of a Stranger is a bit better then the rest in the serious since this is the first time we meet Monk and frankly its a pretty cool idea. Monk is forced to hide his ailment from everyone if he has any hope of keeping his job or solving the murder of a young officer who fought in the Crimean War and was beloved by his noble family and pretty much everyone he ever met.
Its the Crimean War connection that introduces him to Hester Latterly and its Hester who turns what is a pretty solid period murder mystery with a neat angle into more of the same sort of thing we see all the time these days. Because of course Hester is ahead of her time.
If there's something I am supremely tired of its heroines who are ahead of their time.
Hester was a nurse in the Crimea so of course she's smarter then every doctor and high ranking military official in London when it comes to medical or military matters. She goes off into nasty, spiteful attacks on everyone who challenges her and is determined to see women achieve equal footing with men immediately. Because of course she is.
I'm sure you're very surprised to learn Hester and Monk don't like each other on sight.
I wonder if they'll fall in looooovvveeeeeeee????
I just want to throw it out there that I really dislike this particular romantic chestnut. The idea that a couple meet, basically hate each other on site because they're soooooo alike and then eventually realize the hatred was really blinding, adoration for each other...ugh its just lame.
So right, Monk is trying to figure out who he is and solve a mystery and Hester kind of helps because she knows people who fought in the Crimea. So they do that.
Then we throw another characteristic of Perry novels that gets super, super tired. The war between the classes.
Perry is obsessed with the class division in Victorian England. In every single novel Monk (or Thomas Pitt in that series) is always, always ham stringed by his inability to infiltrate the upper class system where these crimes are almost always happening. We get chapter upon chapter about how all the elite hate the police and think they're subhuman and don't feel they should have to answer any "unsavory" questions. The nobles treat their servants like trash. The nobles don't believe anyone except lower class people can commit murder. They happily cover up everything from child molesting to murdering prostitutes in the name of protecting their "honor."
I GET IT the upper class sucks.
Then there's her tendency to really only write two kinds of characters. You're either "ahead of your time" or " hopelessly repressive." Hester, for instance, has a brother who can't stand how uppity Hester is with all her job wanting and rights needing! Women should retire from the room when someone is investigating a crime because their delicate sensibilities will cause them to swoon! Ladies know nothing about anything except doilies and dinner services!
So I don't know the mystery is okay and there's a bit of a bait and switch and the end but from here on out its straight up Monk fighting evil nobles and Hester fighting the "man" lather, rinse, repeat....
November 8, 2012
I am in love with the William Monk mystery series by Anne Perry! "The Face of a Stranger" is the first book of ten. It is set in Victorian England and is replete with vivid descriptions of life during that time period. The book frequently addresses the great disparity that exists between the rich and the poor in Victorian England. A decorated English officer who served in the recent Crimean War is found murdered. William Monk, the brilliant local police detective, is called in to investigate the brutal crime. Monk has only just recently been discharged from the hospital following a terrible horse carriage accident in which he suffered severe head trauma. Monk is suffering from amnesia and does not remember who he is or anything about his life prior to the accident. He stumbles his way through the investigation and is stymied by the cool reception he receives from most of his peers--and especially from his boss. As he tries to recall how to perform his job (he tries to hide the fact that he has forgtten that, too) bits and pieces of his past come rushing back, although fleetingly, and he discovers that he had been harsh and exacting towards his coworkers throughout his whole career wiih the police force. The premise of the story is intriguing, and Monk gets to do what we all have probably wished we could do at one time or another. And that is to go back and fix the wrongs we have committed in the past and strive towards redemption of sorts. The book has a philosophical bent to it that I found stimulating and thought provoking. Excuse me, now, while I download the next book in this series!
April 30, 2013
This is the first in a Victorian mystery series, and it starts with a twist: Monk, our protagonist, has woken in a hospital (not a nice place to be in Victorian England) with amnesia. He discovers he's a police inspector almost right away, but subtle clues-- the fact that no one has visited him in his convalescence, or seems particularly excited he's returned to work-- allow him to piece together a picture of his former life that is rather unpleasant. In other words, Monk appears to have been something of an asshole, much to his growing disgust. This framework sets a fun backdrop to a highly sensational murder case involving a war hero and nobleman who was brutally murdered in his London flat. Monk must start from scratch, personally and professionally, and the unknowns intersect to make this book a fresh twist on a comfortable Victorian murder mystery. Perry knows her Victoriana, and there are lots of nice period details that don't feel forced or arbitrary (look at all the research I did!). Bonus points for a proto-feminist character, too; Hester Latterly, (whose inclusion at first seems arbitrary-- hang in there) matches Monk's wit and, er, directness, and adds a nice balance to his existential brooding. It's a great read, with some nice twists, realistically flawed-but-likable characters, a frank look at the British social class structure, and a thoroughly Victorian atmosphere.
August 28, 2017
William monk is a good detective who gets results, but when an accident robs him of his memory....something he chooses to hide from his colleagues....he finds himself not only trying to solve a particularly brutal and perplexing murder, but also searching for clues to his own identity and past.
This book has a high rating, but it didn't quite work for me....
The murder mystery is very good, the writing is good too. There are some interesting characters, and lots of historical background which gives the book a sense of place and time.
I could have accepted Monk's amnesia, even though it seemed a stretch that he could continue in his role as a detective when he remembered more or less nothing....I could go along with him being able to do certain things by instinct, and how flashbacks gave him insight into his past life etc., but, I hated how the dialogue that was almost constantly going on in his head was so intrusive.
Even during tense interviews with suspects and other action packed detecting, he was continually soul searching inside his head about what kind of man he really was....I found that this spoilt the flow of the story, and became rather tedious and boring.
This is the first book in a series....I think I may read the second book....perhaps William will be a little less self absorbed the more he regains his memory.....
This book has a high rating, but it didn't quite work for me....
The murder mystery is very good, the writing is good too. There are some interesting characters, and lots of historical background which gives the book a sense of place and time.
I could have accepted Monk's amnesia, even though it seemed a stretch that he could continue in his role as a detective when he remembered more or less nothing....I could go along with him being able to do certain things by instinct, and how flashbacks gave him insight into his past life etc., but, I hated how the dialogue that was almost constantly going on in his head was so intrusive.
Even during tense interviews with suspects and other action packed detecting, he was continually soul searching inside his head about what kind of man he really was....I found that this spoilt the flow of the story, and became rather tedious and boring.
This is the first book in a series....I think I may read the second book....perhaps William will be a little less self absorbed the more he regains his memory.....
December 31, 2017
I loved the premise of this book: Inspector William Monk awakens in a hospital bed and can't remember who he is. As he receives visitors, he pieces together that he is a police inspector, but he remembers little else.
The story takes place right after the Crimean War, and Monk is placed on a high-profile case: to solve the murder of an aristocratic young man who was wounded in the war. He gets the sense that his superior wants him to fail. Clues are hard to come by and, all the while he is trying to solve the case, he is also trying to learn more about himself - and about a mysterious woman whom he senses he might have been involved with and who might have information about the murder.
This is the third mystery I've tried in the past few months and none of them have wowed me, although this one was pretty good. A bunch of people told me this series was really, really good, but my conclusion is I'm just not a mystery fan.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistres: http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_sai...
The story takes place right after the Crimean War, and Monk is placed on a high-profile case: to solve the murder of an aristocratic young man who was wounded in the war. He gets the sense that his superior wants him to fail. Clues are hard to come by and, all the while he is trying to solve the case, he is also trying to learn more about himself - and about a mysterious woman whom he senses he might have been involved with and who might have information about the murder.
This is the third mystery I've tried in the past few months and none of them have wowed me, although this one was pretty good. A bunch of people told me this series was really, really good, but my conclusion is I'm just not a mystery fan.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistres: http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_sai...
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